Digitization: The wide start of the electric patient files HAKT

Around 70 million legally insured persons now have an electronic patient file (EPA). In a few days, however, the new digital memory for health data should only really arrive in everyday life. Because on October 1st, doctors are mandatory to enter important findings into the e-files so that they can always be ready for further treatments. Only: Shortly before the start, the technical requirements are not there everywhere because practices have to wait for the necessary software modules.

“According to our last status, about 80 percent of the practices are equipped with such a module,” said the board member of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), Sibylle Steiner, the German Press Agency. “We see that a fifth of the practices cannot yet work with the EPA.” Some providers of practical management systems know that the EPA module should be delivered in the fourth quarter. “We have no feedback from other manufacturers.”

Practices threaten to compromise on the remuneration

Steiner said: “We will continue to urge that all practices are able to integrate the EPA into everyday work as soon as possible.” In the event of delays, however, paradoxically, the practices of sanctions in the remuneration threatened. That is completely unacceptable. “It cannot be that the practices are punished if manufacturers of the software systems do not manage to provide modules for EPA use in time.”

Since January, around 70 million of the 74 million legally insured persons have received an e-file from their health insurance company-this is automatically based on a reform of the traffic light coalition if you do not actively object. The EPA should be able to accompany patients for a lifetime. By bundling examination findings, laboratory values ​​or information about medication centrally, it should contribute to better treatments.

Use in practices and other facilities attracts

Operation in health facilities has been expanded nationwide since spring. Doctors still fill EPAs on a voluntary basis. According to the mostly federal digital agency, around 58,000 of the 98,500 medical practices in Germany are already taking part. Already there are almost 20,000 dental practices, around 6,500 pharmacies and 727 clinics. Most recently, 1.9 million documents were uploaded weekly.

It is clear that the practices are pioneers in digitization in healthcare, said KBV board member Steiner. In particular, inpatient facilities, in particular, would finally have to follow suit. “Many practices report that they still have to hold fax devices so that communication with hospitals and care is running.” In the exchange of information about the discharge letters of clinics, however, the greatest added value of the EPA saw.

Clinics expect later EPA connection

The clinics do not expect a nationwide connection to the EPA on October 1, as the German hospital company announced in early September. Even in the pilot phase, it had become clear that the introduction was not done with a simple software update. The requirements are more complex and not comparable to smaller facilities such as practices. According to a survey of 382 clinics, 58 percent assume that the EPA can only be used in hospitality in the course of next year.

In the practices, it will soon have to be seen how broad use starts. If you insert your insurance card on the registration counter, you release access for 90 days. “It is often the case that, for example, the family doctor tells her patients that she is now filling the EPA for the first time,” explained KBV board member Steiner.

Unfortunately, one hears from practices that patients still know little about the EPA. The health insurers would have the obligation to provide comprehensive information about it. “From our point of view, there is even a clear need to catch up here.” The practical teams have no capacities for this.

Ignorance on the right to insight into the file

The general local health insurance funds (AOK) and the Aktion alliance of patient safety penetrate more transparency. According to a survey, patients often have problems maintaining their own medical records who recorded important information on hospital stays and practical visits. Many therefore do not even know the legal right to insight into their file. Since the EPA currently only contains summaries and no complete treatment details, the possibility of requesting the entire file is also indispensable in the future.